Catherine Stine's IDEA CITY

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

On Stephen King, HORROR & cool creative artists

I've been thinking about the horror genre lately, as I'm polishing my psychological contemporary YA horror novel. Recently I've read a few good posts on the topic, including this one in The Guardian with Stephen King, talking about his new book Doctor Sleep (Sequel to The Shining), and his revelations about his alcoholism and former drinking days. King says that it's still not exactly the second golden age of horror, though some authors think we're headed there.

I find that I'm inspired by not only authors who are writing in my genre, but many types of creative thinkers. I just got back from a trip to Indiana, where we visited the TC Steele Museum, and saw his former studio and home. He was a prominent painter of landscape in the late 1800's and he inspired other artists of the time to travel to Nashville, Indiana and set up a thriving artist colony. It is a

TC Steele, studio table

gorgeous setting--up in the forested hills, surrounded by cornfields and other crops. I was struck by his easel setup that still had his oils in cigar boxes, and even had the cigars he smoked while painting!

Gustave Baumann, woodcut

Gustave Baumann, woodcut

Gustave Baumann, one of the artists in the colony, was my favorite. He did detailed woodcuts that are like jewels. He eventually moved to Santa Fe, which, as most people know, became another popular artist colony. Anyone who lives and breathes the creative life, day by day, I find terrifically inspiring, don't you? Who are your most inspiring mentors? Artists? Authors? Musicians?

Awesome! I will still read Horror occasionally, but I don't write it straight, not since I was 12. Regardless, it always creeps into my work. The creepy factor does amazing things for tension, doesn't it?

Those are some amazing paintings! I have a great aunt, Cora Boone, who painted the valley around where I grew up and her paintings hung all over my house. I love her work and it always inspires me. (Though maybe not to write horror--that takes a little more fun! :)

Cool you are branching into horror and found some resources.As a writer, I'm inspired by the works of Preston and Child. Their books read like movies. Just perfect.Musically - John Petrucci, guitarist for Dream Theater!

Alex, such interesting influences. Meradeth, it's great to have artists in the family. I have a few too. Crystal, yes, whether or not you're writing horror, the Creep Factor is a good addition to any story to up the tension. Suze, no, I have yet to rad that one. I'll check it out!

Catherine, I love horror. I love reading it, watching it, and I'm attempting to write it. It's a tough genre to master. My teen daughter is one of my toughest critics. She's also a horror junkie, like me. I'm yet to let her read my latest, only because I fear the worst. She'll think it's lame! Yet, I know, before I send it out for critiques, she'll need to be my first reader. Before I'll consider it horror, it'll need to scare the pants off her. Until then, I won't be satisfied.

I'm inspired by anything and everything creative. I can visit gardens, museums, art galleries, bookstores, concerts, plays, etc. and feel the creative juices flow. I love art of all kinds.

I need to check out those links, thanks! The thought of a second golden age of horror is fantastic. Good time to be a horror author! I missed out on seeing Stephen King in Boulder this month because the tickets sold out so darned fast.

Candilynn, for sure our kids are our harshest critics. I was elated when my sons liked Fireseed One. Lee, I haven't heard of King's Cell. Must be living under a rock. Julie, I've just started King's Doctor Sleep and it is SUPER-CREEPTASTIC! Shannon, yes, I considered myself really lucky when I landed those tickets to see King read. He did not disappoint.

I'm reading Doctor Sleep right now and it's quite an interesting story. King's interview is great, as well. I want to venture into writing horror. It's all I wrote as a kid, but not what I've written lately.

DORIANNA WINS BEST HORROR BOOK in the TKH Awards!

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About Me

I write bestselling fantasy & contemporary novels as Catherine Stine and romance as Kitsy Clare.
Head over to my website at http://www.catherinestine.com for info on my author events and to subscribe to my newsletter.
I hang out in NYC, Philly and in the Catskills. I've been known to paint a picture or two. Obsessed with witch tales, bad TV and travel to offbeat places.